Once banned by communists, Poland’s stately 18th century dance garners UNESCO honors

WARSAW, Poland — Once banned by rulers dispatched from Moscow, Poland’s stately polonaise dance that nurtured the country’s spirit even through the dark years of its partition is now honored by UNESCO. On Dec. 5, this living tradition was ensconced into the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage as a “form of joint celebration,” which “commemorates important moments in family and community life and symbolizes cooperation, reconciliation and equality.” Poland’s Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, which petitioned for the dance’s inclusion into UNESCO’s list, said its initiative was met with huge public support. “The most important in the polonaise is that the whole group can jointly dance the choreography, and among the personal features the most important are the dignity of the men and the ethereal nature of the women,” said Marcin Pracki, a dancer of the Warsaw University’s Dance Theater “Warszawianka.” Another “Warszawianka” dancer, Monika Fiugajska, said the dance’s simplicity is its strength. This slow-paced procession dance evolved from a folk form called the “walking dance.” By the 18th century, under the French name of “Polonaise” - or Polish - it was widely danced among European nobility and opened royal balls. Natalia Bernat, an 18-year-old student who took part in a massive street dance in the central city of Lodz last month, said the polonaise brings people together at a time when the community needs it most and she believes “it’s worth it to cultivate this tradition.” The leader of the Lodz street dance, Janusz Wielgosz, who donned a historic outfit for the occasion, said the polonaise is about beauty.